Surface covered separable fasteners



Feb. 27, 1962 L. H. MORIN SURFACE COVERED SEPARABLE FASTENERS Filed March 12, 1958 ATTO NEY United States Patent() Aice 3,022,569 SURFACE COVERED SEPARABLE FASTENERS Louis H. Morin, Bronx, N.Y., assigner to Coats 8c Clark Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 12, `1958, Ser. No. 720,876 3 Ciaims. (Cl. 24-205.15)

This invention relates to separable fasteners, wherein one or both side surfaces of the scoops of the stringers are covered by covering tapes or ribbons disposed within boundaries of the Stringer scoops so that the sliders operatively engaging the Stringer scoops, in coupling and uncoupling the same, will have direct bearing upon edge portions of the scoops.

More particularly, the invention deals with separable fasteners of the character described, wherein the scoops are formed of plastic material, such as nylon or Delrin, directly molded or cast upon the stringers and, wherein, oiiset or center ledge type of scoops are employed.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a separable fastener structure of the character described, wherein the stitches employed for securing covering tapes or ribbons upon the scoop portions of the stringers engage recessed or apertured portions of the scoops in reinforcing attachment of the scoops to the Stringer tapes and, further, wherein the slider, for coupling the fastener stringers, includes, on its inner surface, a projecting bearing portion or portions for engaging the scoops intermediate spaced edges of the ribbons covering surfaces of the scoops.

3,022,566 Patented Feb.' 27, 1362 In one form of the construction employed, the tapes or ribbons 17, 17' are disposed upon both side surfaces of the scoops, as clearly noted in FIG. 2 of the drawing; whereas, in FIG. 3, the tapes or ribbons 17, 17 are iocated only on outer surfaces of the scoops and, with this construction, it is preferred that the scoops 18, 1S modify the scoops 11, 11' from the standpoint of having grooves 19, 19 on opposed surfaces thereof to receive the threads 20, for attaching the tapes or ribbons 17, 17' in position.

In FIG. 3 of the drawing, the Stringer tapes are designated by the reference characters 21, 21'. In FIG. l of the drawing, I have shown the contracted end portion of a slider 22, this end portion being shown in section in FIG. 2 of the drawing, the dared background showing of the slider being omitted. The purpose of the section in FIG. 2 of the drawing is to show engagement of the side flanges 23 and 24 of the slider with the inner edges 2S, 25 of the mounting end portions 13, 13 of the scoops, as well as to show inwardly extending ribs 26 and 27 centrally of upper and lower walls of the slider for direct engagement with the coupled scoops, the ribs being positioned between the spaced inner adjacent edges of the tapes or ribbons 17, 17.

' The-slider 22 of FIG. '3' differs from the slider 22 in including only one of the ribs, as at '26', the lower rib The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and,-in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference .characters in each of the'views and, in' which:

FIG. l is a diagrammatic plan view of a portion' of two stringers, part of a slide and portions of two cover tapes or ribbons, with parts of the construction broken away.

FIG. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a view,-similar to FIG.2, showing a modification.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of aportion of a modified form of Stringer which I employ, indicating the attachment of a cover tape or ribbon to one of the scoops of the Stringer.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail section on the Vline 5 5 of FIG. 4 showing one complete scoop and part of two adjacent scoops and illustrating the stitching of the cover tapes or ribbons to the scoop surfaces; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged edge and sectional view substantially on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4, showing one of the scoops arranged upon the tape, prior to attachment of the cover tapes or ribbons thereon.

While my invention deals primarily with the construction of separable fasteners, generally wherein the stringers ot' the fastener have scoops fashioned in any desired manner, to illustrate one adaptation and use of my invention, I will refer to separable fasteners, wherein the scoops of the stringers are formed of cast or molded plastics of any suitable type, such as nylon or Delrin being preferable and, in FIGS. l to 3, inclusive, I have diagrammatically shown on, a pair of stringers 10, 10', scoops 11, 11', preferably of the offset or center ledge type, having interengaging coupling portions 12, 12', the structure of which is of no direct concern in the present application. The scoops are modified to the extent of providing, on side surfaces of the mounting end portions 13, 13', recesses 14, 14', preferably arranged adjacent the beaded edges 15, 15 of the tapes 10, 10', the recesses being provided for reception of securing threads 16, 16' employed for attaching cover tapes or ribbons 17, 17 to the scoops of the respective stringers.

27 being omitted. Aside from this change, the structure of the slider and its operation upon the scoops 18, 1S will be the same as that shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing.

It will appear, from a consideration of FIGS. 2 and 3, that the tapes or ribbons 17, 17 are disposed within end boundaries of each of the scoops and within end boundaries of the coupled scoops, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. It will be .understood that the threads or stitching iti. v16' are secured to the Stringer tapes intermediate edge portions of adjacent scoops on the stringers in securely holding the mounting end portions of the scoops in engagement with the Stringer tapes while,at the same time= supporting the cover tapes or ribbons'l?, 17' in position.

In FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. of the drawing, I have shown a -modiiied form ot' Stringer, in conjunction with which sliders, generally similar to the 'sliders 22 are employed. As will appearfrom a consideration of FIG. 4 of the drawing, each Stringer tape 28 has, spaced along its beaded edge 29, scoops 30 having coupling end portions 31 of somewhat diiierent contour than those illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, but, here again, the specific structure of the coupling end portion is of no momentary concern. However, the mounting end portions 32 of the scoops are modified Vto the extent of having outwardly ared apertures 33 Vformed therein in registration with the beaded portionsr29 of the tapes 28. The apertures 33, in addition to aring to outer sides of the scoops, or what might be regarded as upper and lower surfaces thereof, terminate in rounded or ared portions 34 at their outer extremities for free and easy guidance Vof a stitching needle into the apertures 33 in the operation of stitching cover tapes or ribbons 35 to upper and lower surfaces of the scoops 30, as illustrated diagrammatically by the threads 36 of this stitching, the threads 36 being interlocked in the tape portion, as diagrammatically illustrated at 37 in FIG. 5 of the drawing. Here again, the stitching 36 will securely and iixedly support the mounting end portions 32 of the scoops upon the Stringer tape.

It will be apparent that, in casting or molding the scoops upon the stringer tape, the pressure injection of the material forces the material, to some extent, into the interstices of the tape braid in establishing anchorage of the scoops on the stringertape. However, with plastic scoops, this anchorage is not as secure as in the case with metal scoops and, thus, with the plastics, the stitchings act as reinforcements and clamping means for retaining mount E ing end portions or legs of the scoops upon the Stringer tapes, definitely retaining the same thereon against shifting or displacement. Y With the structure as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, inclusive, the tapes V35 are retained Within boundaries ofY each sco-op Y length and the,overall dimensions of the coupled scoops of protect the scoops when the garment, to which Vthe stringers are attached, is subjected'to ironing. VFurther, by arranging the tapes or ribbons within end boundaries of the scoops, the sliders, bearing directly upon the scoops, will have a free and substantially frictionless operation, it being apparent that the sliders will have slight clearances for the tapes or ribbons, but no Vattempt has been made in the present iilustration to show such clearances. In

this connection, it will be apparent that the ribs 26, 27,

26' serve to establish and maintain these clearances.

The cover tapes or ribbons for the stringers can Vbe composed of any desired materialV and, in some instances, can be made tornatch or blend with the material of the ar- Y ticle, in connection with which the separable fastenerris employed.

VHaving fully described ,my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: f1. A separable fastener employing a pair of opposed stringers comprising a pair of tapes; a bead on an edge of each tape; scoops spacedalong the beaded edge of each Ytape; acover ribbon associated with eachV Stringer; said scoops each having a projecting end portionadapted toY engage scoops on the opposite Stringer and each having a tape-'engaging portion having two legs gripping the bead and Veach also having formed portions for reception of the stitching securing the ribbon to the Stringer, said formed portions comprising outwardly tapered apertures at op- Cil ' of a tape engaging portion of a scoop; each said cover ribbon extending parallel to the tape of the Stringer with which it is associated and each said cover ribbon overlying and being located within the end boundaries of the s scoops on said tape, stitching for securing each ribbonto the tape with which it is associated Vandto the scoops of said tape, said stitching and said ribbon reinforcing the grip of the scoops on the tape. Y

2. A structure as deiined in clahn 1 wherein the beads `of said tapes are exposed to said apertures of Vthe scoops.

y3. A separable fastener employing alpair of opposed stringers comprising a pair of tapes; a bead on anedge of each tape;` scoops spaced along the beaded edge of each tape, said scoops each having a projecting end portion adapted to engage scoops on the opposite Stringer and each having a tape-engaging portion having two legs gripping the bead, the scoops on theopposed stringers having, when engaged, a substantially rectangular cross-section when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the beaded edges of the opposed tapes, and each of said scoops being substantially symmetrical on each side Vof the plane of said tape, arslider movable along the stringere to couple and uncouple the same, said slider having a pair of side anges on each wall, each side ange adapted to engage an end of a leg of a Ytape engaging portion of a scoop; a cover ribbon associated with each stringer, each said cover rib-Y bon extending parallel to the tape of the Stringer with which it is associated and each saidrcover ribbon overlying and being located within the end boundaries of the scoops on said tape, stitchingfor securing each ribbon to the taperwith which it is associated and to the scoopsof said tape, said stitching and said ribbon reinforcing the grip of the scoops on the tape, and a central rib on said slideradaptedto directly engage the surface of coupled scoops intermediate spaced edges of said cover ribbons.

References Cited in the iilepofrthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

